Comments on: How to Get the Most out of Internet Medicine http://healthewoman.org/2009/02/20/how-to-get-the-most-out-of-internet-medicine/ Facts Plus Stories Equals Knowledge Tue, 31 May 2011 00:40:53 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Shelley Binkley http://healthewoman.org/2009/02/20/how-to-get-the-most-out-of-internet-medicine/comment-page-1/#comment-527 Shelley Binkley Fri, 17 Apr 2009 16:23:28 +0000 http://healthewoman.org/2009/02/20/how-to-get-the-most-out-of-internet-medicine/#comment-527 Hi Arla! There are exciting new developments in the treatment of fibroids with various medications. Mifepristone is not the only option. There is new data available on anastrazole for treatment of fibroids. Anastrzole is a drug used to treat breast cancer and marketed under the trade name "Arimidex". It's an "aromatase inhibitor". It blocks conversion of estrogen precursor molecules to estrogen in breast cells, thus reducing the risk of recurrent breast cancer. However, it also blocks this conversion in other tissues such as fibroid tumors. An small study published in the December 2007 issue of Obstetrics & Gynecology demonstrated a 55% average reduction in fibroid volume in women who took anastrazole, 1 mg daily x @90 days. In addition to anastrazole, the NIH is presently conducting a study on a new molecule, a modified mifepristone, CDB-2914, to reduce fibroid volume. Hopefully the results of this study will be available in 2009 or 2010. In my practice we are exploring using anastrazole for treatment of fibroids. We are also working with a compounding pharmacy to try to get mifepristone compounded to 5 and 10 mg doses. We sent the literature to the compounding pharmacy on the use of mifepristone for fibroids and we are waiting to hear if they will agree to compound it. Hopefully we will have this option available for patients in May 2009. Thank you very much for your comments. I'm working on a new blog post describing these exciting options on the frontier of fibroid treatment. Shelley Hi Arla!
There are exciting new developments in the treatment of fibroids with various medications. Mifepristone is not the only option. There is new data available on anastrazole for treatment of fibroids. Anastrzole is a drug used to treat breast cancer and marketed under the trade name “Arimidex”. It’s an “aromatase inhibitor”. It blocks conversion of estrogen precursor molecules to estrogen in breast cells, thus reducing the risk of recurrent breast cancer. However, it also blocks this conversion in other tissues such as fibroid tumors. An small study published in the December 2007 issue of Obstetrics & Gynecology demonstrated a 55% average reduction in fibroid volume in women who took anastrazole, 1 mg daily x @90 days.
In addition to anastrazole, the NIH is presently conducting a study on a new molecule, a modified mifepristone, CDB-2914, to reduce fibroid volume. Hopefully the results of this study will be available in 2009 or 2010.
In my practice we are exploring using anastrazole for treatment of fibroids. We are also working with a compounding pharmacy to try to get mifepristone compounded to 5 and 10 mg doses. We sent the literature to the compounding pharmacy on the use of mifepristone for fibroids and we are waiting to hear if they will agree to compound it. Hopefully we will have this option available for patients in May 2009.
Thank you very much for your comments. I’m working on a new blog post describing these exciting options on the frontier of fibroid treatment.
Shelley

]]> By: Arla C. Meyer http://healthewoman.org/2009/02/20/how-to-get-the-most-out-of-internet-medicine/comment-page-1/#comment-518 Arla C. Meyer Fri, 17 Apr 2009 01:06:04 +0000 http://healthewoman.org/2009/02/20/how-to-get-the-most-out-of-internet-medicine/#comment-518 Thank you for starting this thread. Have you had any luck withthe compounding of Mifepristone into 5 or 10 mg doses? Ive been using Evista 60-180 mg q.d. for uterine fibroids, but the side effect profile is making my M.D. nervous. I found both of these medical treatment options on the internet. Even though a surgical procedure would have been over months ago, I think I'm glad I'm trying the non-surgical options available first. If you are able to get the lower dose, please let me know how you did it. Thank you. Thank you for starting this thread. Have you had any luck withthe compounding of Mifepristone into 5 or 10 mg doses? Ive been using Evista 60-180 mg q.d. for uterine fibroids, but the side effect profile is making my M.D. nervous. I found both of these medical treatment options on the internet. Even though a surgical procedure would have been over months ago, I think I’m glad I’m trying the non-surgical options available first. If you are able to get the lower dose, please let me know how you did it. Thank you.

]]> By: WarmSocks http://healthewoman.org/2009/02/20/how-to-get-the-most-out-of-internet-medicine/comment-page-1/#comment-389 WarmSocks Sat, 04 Apr 2009 20:27:35 +0000 http://healthewoman.org/2009/02/20/how-to-get-the-most-out-of-internet-medicine/#comment-389 Great writing! Found your blog through a link from SeaSpray... who I found through a link from Dr. Rob. I tend to like WebMD and MayoClinic's websites. They usually have good information that's detailed enough to actually be educational, yet not so technical that I need a dictionary to wade through it. I also like www.LabTestsOnline.org and www.RxList.com Great writing! Found your blog through a link from SeaSpray… who I found through a link from Dr. Rob.

I tend to like WebMD and MayoClinic’s websites. They usually have good information that’s detailed enough to actually be educational, yet not so technical that I need a dictionary to wade through it. I also like http://www.LabTestsOnline.org and http://www.RxList.com

]]> By: Shelley Binkley http://healthewoman.org/2009/02/20/how-to-get-the-most-out-of-internet-medicine/comment-page-1/#comment-272 Shelley Binkley Thu, 05 Mar 2009 02:35:17 +0000 http://healthewoman.org/2009/02/20/how-to-get-the-most-out-of-internet-medicine/#comment-272 @cathy. TY for the positive feedback. It's always more rewarding to have a conversation with someone who has done her homework, so I really appreciate patients taking any initiative to educate themselves. @cathy. TY for the positive feedback. It’s always more rewarding to have a conversation with someone who has done her homework, so I really appreciate patients taking any initiative to educate themselves.

]]> By: cathy http://healthewoman.org/2009/02/20/how-to-get-the-most-out-of-internet-medicine/comment-page-1/#comment-269 cathy Wed, 04 Mar 2009 20:19:51 +0000 http://healthewoman.org/2009/02/20/how-to-get-the-most-out-of-internet-medicine/#comment-269 A doctor who welcomes internet research from her patients? How refreshing! As a patient, I really feel like it's my responsibility to inform myself on my condition. When my kids have had problems, I've turned to the internet - and occasionally ended up with more specific knowledge on the subject (allergies and infant colitis) than our pediatrician. The doctors we see are fantastic, but they can't be specialists in everything. I think that the key is to do as you suggest - get information from several reputable sites and be aware as you research so that you don't let the information "make you sick." Thanks for this! A doctor who welcomes internet research from her patients? How refreshing! As a patient, I really feel like it’s my responsibility to inform myself on my condition. When my kids have had problems, I’ve turned to the internet – and occasionally ended up with more specific knowledge on the subject (allergies and infant colitis) than our pediatrician. The doctors we see are fantastic, but they can’t be specialists in everything. I think that the key is to do as you suggest – get information from several reputable sites and be aware as you research so that you don’t let the information “make you sick.”

Thanks for this!

]]> By: Shelley Binkley http://healthewoman.org/2009/02/20/how-to-get-the-most-out-of-internet-medicine/comment-page-1/#comment-245 Shelley Binkley Fri, 20 Feb 2009 18:08:17 +0000 http://healthewoman.org/2009/02/20/how-to-get-the-most-out-of-internet-medicine/#comment-245 @Leigh Ann Thank you very much for the positive feedback! I'm warming up for the FDA rant...interesting note about the Library of Congress website; I guess anything's fallible... @Leigh Ann Thank you very much for the positive feedback! I’m warming up for the FDA rant…interesting note about the Library of Congress website; I guess anything’s fallible…

]]> By: Leigh Ann http://healthewoman.org/2009/02/20/how-to-get-the-most-out-of-internet-medicine/comment-page-1/#comment-244 Leigh Ann Fri, 20 Feb 2009 17:59:22 +0000 http://healthewoman.org/2009/02/20/how-to-get-the-most-out-of-internet-medicine/#comment-244 How interesting. I love hearing about the "then" and "now" from doctors. I think your tips are right on. I once found a big error on a Library of Congress site! It wasn't medical--had to do with a myth about black-eyed peas--but still, it was the LOC! I agree with your recommendations for sources--CDC and NIH. I'm interested to hear your thoughts on the FDA. I'd, of course, recommend the site for the magazine I edit, which is written by health-care providers. ;-) Found your post on Twitter. Nice to see you there. Leigh Ann Hubbard Managing Editor James Hubbard's My Family Doctor How interesting. I love hearing about the “then” and “now” from doctors. I think your tips are right on.

I once found a big error on a Library of Congress site! It wasn’t medical–had to do with a myth about black-eyed peas–but still, it was the LOC!

I agree with your recommendations for sources–CDC and NIH. I’m interested to hear your thoughts on the FDA. I’d, of course, recommend the site for the magazine I edit, which is written by health-care providers. ;-)

Found your post on Twitter. Nice to see you there.

Leigh Ann Hubbard
Managing Editor
James Hubbard’s My Family Doctor

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